Electric iron control



July 30, 1957 J. R. GoMERsALl. ETAL 2,800,807

ELECTRIC IRON CONTROL original Filed April 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INI/EN ToRs. MURRA y [REL A ND By f/oH/v f?. oM-HSAL L EV v July 30, 1957 0. R. GGMERSALL am 2,800,807

ELECTRIC IRON CONTROL Original Filed April 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENTORS.

MURRAY kim/vz? By JOHN 7?. GOMEHSALL United States Patent O ELECTRIC IRON CONTROL John vR. Gomersall, Elgin, and Murray Ireland, near Elgin, Ill., assignors to McGraw-Edison Company, a corporation of Delaware Griginal application April 2, 1945, Serial No. 586,099, now Patent No. 2,585,928, dated February 19, 1952. Divided and this application February 18, 1952, Serial N o. 272,223

10 Claims. (Cl. 74-504) Our invention relates to sadirons and particularly to electrically heated sadirons. The same constitutes one of the various inventions originally included in our prior copending application Serial No. 586,099, led April 2, 1945, now Patent 2,585,928, to which the present application is related as a divisional application.

An object of the invention is to provide improved manually adjusting control for a heat control switch of an electric iron and of the general type adapted to be operated by a hand holding the iron handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved manual switch adjusting control constructed for convenient assembly with an electric iron.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved manual switch adjusting control adapted for housing in a hollow column on top of an electric iron body and adapted for easy assembly with such a column.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved manual switch adjusting control for an electric iron including novel indicating and rotation limiting stop mechanism.

Other objects of our invention will either be apparent from a description of one form of device embodying our invention or will be set forth in the course of such description and particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view through the center of an iron embodying7 our invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the indicator in the handle,

Fig. 3 is a lateral, sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the handle showing the control parts,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional line taken on the line 17-17 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are detailed views of the control parts in an exploded arrangement, and,

Fig. 11 is a vertical, sectional view, on a reduced scale, of a modified form of control.

The novel manually adjustable control of the present invention is shown in conjunction with an electric iron construction in accordance with our afore-mentioned application Serial No. 586,099. Such iron comprises a relatively thin metal sole plate 33, a relatively thin top plate 35 and a planar electric heating element 37 sandwiched between such plates. According to our aforementioned application, plates 33 and 35 are brazed together under brazing heat and high pressure at their margins to provide a thermally eilicient unit. A portion 79 of brazing iilm which units the margins is shown in Fig. l adjacent heel 91 of the sole plate.

Secured in recesses in sole plate 33 and extending upwardly through the top plate are metal assembly or supporting plugs 71 and 73 located in longitudinally spaced 2,800,807 Patented July 30, 1957 ICC relation at the center line of the plates. Mounted on the front plug is a U-shaped supporting bracket 143. Another diierently shaped supporting bracket is mounted on rear plug 73. A cover or casing 147 is provided, the lower edge of which is adapted to rest upon the outer peripheral surface oi top plate 35. The rear portion of casing 147 is secured to bracket 125 by a single screw 165. A rear closure plate 167 is provided and is held by a single short screw 169 which engages the lower end of bracket 125. The further portion of the iron proper shown in Figs. 1 and 3 includes an automatically operated control switch mechanism for heating element 37. The same includes a lower contact bar 107 and an upper contact bar 121 mounted in insulated relation on rear plug 73. Contact bar 107 extends substantially longitudinally of the iron and has a contact member 127 adjacent its outer end. A coacting contact member is carried by the outer end of Contact bar 121. The two bars 107 and 121 are made of spring metal and biased downwardly. An upwardly biased further spring arm 115 is mounted in insulated relation on plug 73 and extends forwardly between contact bars 107 and 121, being apertured for passage therethrough of contact member 135.

The control switch is automatically operated in re-` sponse to the temperature of sole plate 33 by a diagranr matically shown bimetal thermostat member 43 of sheet material and rectangular shape housed in a chamber or recess 41 in the sole plate and explained in detail in our copending application Serial No. 272,221, tiled February 18, 1952, now Patent 2,726,313, dated December 6, 1955, and our aforementioned Patent 2,585,928. A thin metal cover 47 overlies bimetal member 43 and closes the top of chamber 41. An actuating pin 133 engages the midpoint of bimetal member 43 at its lower end and engages at its upper end an insulated bushing 129 on lower contact bar 107. Pin 133 is supported by an insulating bushing 75 secured in top plate 35 and extends downwardly into chamber 41 through a hole in cover 47. The opposite ends of bimetal member 43 are loosely held in position by depressed portions 51 on plate 47. Temperature changes of the sole plate cause the bimetal member to warp vertically and through actuating pin 133 to adjust the position of contact bar 107.

The handle construction includes a main handle grip portion 151 having an integral handle supporting post 153 adjacent its rear end portion and made of a heat and electric insulating material. The rear handle post or support 153 is adapted to be secured to intermediate spacing plate 155 by a plurality of short screws 157 and spacers 159. Plate 155 is adapted to be secured against a cooperating surface of 14'7 by a plurality of short screws 161, there being spacing members 163 located therebetween. The rear end portion of the handle is adapted to be held in proper position on the casing by the same single screw 165 which, as earlier stated, secures the casing to rear bracket 125.

The structure located below the front end of handle grip portion 151 is independent thereof, the handle being entirely supported through rear supporting post 153. Such structure includes a hollow front member or column 171 of the same material las the handle but formed separately therefrom. The upper end of column 171 is entirely out of engagement with the front end of handle grip portion 151 being slightly spaced therefrom, as shown in Fig. l. Through such yarrangement there is less transmission of heat from the iron body to the front end of the handle grip portion than where the handle is provided, as commonly, with an integral front supporting post.

The lower surface of column 171 has secured there- 'asooov against a spacing plate 173 by a plurality of short screws `175 with spacers'177 therebetween. -Spacing plate 173 is secured 4against casing 147 by a single short screw 179 which is threaded in the Vupper end of bracket143,

A pair of electric terminals 223 and 225'are secured in a recess 227 Ain the rear'handle `post 153, such recess being o'f substantially L-shape. Plate 119 connects one of such terminals with contact bar 121 of the vcontrol switch and a terminal lead 229 connects the other terminal to the electric heating element 37. A single lead connects switch -contact bar 107 through a further lead 169 with the heating element. A twin conductor supply cord 231 extends through handle post 153 into recess 227 to Vconnect with terminals 223 225. A spring post l233 surrounds cord 231 externally of the handle to prevent kinking. A pair of thumb rests 237 'and 239 are provided vat the front end of handle portion 151, thumb rest 237 being adapted for a right-handed user, while a left-handed user will use thumb rest 239.

The hollow front column 171 has an opening 181 extending substantially longitudinally therethrough, which opening is adapted to receive means manually-adjustable for changing the position of the spring bar 115 of the control switch for the electric heating element 37 of the iron. Opening 181 has positioned therein a control shaft 183, the lower end portion of which is provided with screw threads for engaging with 'support 143 so that upon rotary movement of control shaft 183, the lower end portion normally engaging the outer -end portion of upwardly biased spring bar 1'15, will be moved either upwardly or downwardly. The upper end portion of control shaft 183 (Fig. 4) is provided with a 'short serrated or luted end portion 185 as well as with an in termediate relatively short portion 187 of reduced diameter. The upper end portion 185 is adapted to fit into an opening 189 in a control wheel hub 1'9'1. The control wheel hub has an upper enlarged end portion 193 (Fig. 9) which has a screw driver slot 195 therein for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The opening 189 is also tinted longitudinally to permit of slidably interiitting engagement with the iluted head 185.

We provide further a control wheel 197 having an in-I ner screw threaded opening therein, which control wheel 1s adapted to have screwed thereinto the control wheel hub 191. We provide further a control wheel stop mem'- ber 199 which is provided at its lower end with an opening 291, the inner surface of which is nute'd to Lreceive the externally fluted portion 193 of the control wheel hub. The control wheel stop member 199 i`s adapted to lit over the upper end portion 193 of theY control wheel hub and to be held in selectively adjusted position peripherally thereof by a machine screw 2703. The upper end portion of the hollow front column 171 1s provided with a recess 205 therein for receiving the control wheel stop 199. A projection 207 is' provided intermediate the ends of the control wheel stop 199' and a cooperating projection 209 is provided in recess 205 in a predetermined position to prevent excess peripheral adjutinlg movements by the operator turning the control w ee.

When assembling the iron, the control shaft 183 may be screwed into the support 143 after which the frontA column 171 is placed in proper operative on the cas'- ing. After this, the control wheel 197 is pushed into the recess provided for it in the column 171 and then the control wheel hub 191V is screwed into the control wheel. The operator then adjusts the position of the control wheel by turning the same until contact 135 just engages contact 127 when theiron'is cold. Then he places the control wheel stop 199 with the proj'ee tion 207 positioned relatively tothe projection 209 substantially as shown inl Fig. 6`- of the drawings, after which he screws in screw 203 tightly. p Y

lt-istofbelnoted that the' c'utr periphery' ot" the clitrol wheel41-97 may be` provided with flutes 211 for convenienee ofthe operator vand that these utes extend outwardly beyond the periphery of member 171 for engagement by the operators thumb 4and linger of the hand holding the iron (Figs. 2 and 6*).

A dial 213 is 4positioned in a recess at the front end of the handle v151. This recess is further provided with covering extensions 215 and 217 extending toward each other anda transparent cover 219 is positioned in the recess thus constituted. A pin 221 is xedly supported at the front end of handle 151 and is adapted to have intertitting engagement with the dial plate 213 as well as with the cover 219 which is of flexible transparent material.

Referring now to Fig. 11, we have there shown a modication of the manually-actuable switch-adjusting means which we may use instead of that shown in Fig. 4. `T his adjusting means comprisesa'control 'shaft 241 in an vopening 243 in memberf171, the lower end of which shaft Y extends through the Vcas'inga'nd member 143 and Iengages the sprin'garm 115. The upper end of shaft 241 is rigidly connected with a cup-shaped member 245 the supper surface ofthe wall extending at an angle and'having a projection 247 adapted yto move in a longitudinal Slot 249 and prevent turning movement of member 245. A control wheel hub V251 has its llower end intertting with an opening 'in thelowe'r end portion of member 245. A 'cam member 253 having a lower angularly-extending surface thereon engaged by the angularly-extending surface of the upper end of member 245 is screwed Von member 251 against a` control wheel 197, which latter abuts an externally iluted head 255 on member 251. A control wheel stop 199 has an opening extending in'to it from its lower surface, the inner surface ofthe opening being iluted to engage head 255 in selected position determined by a pointer or arrow mark on member 199, and being held in such position by a screw 203. A spring 257 biasesmembers 245 and 241 so that the two cam surfaces will always be in engagement with each other. l

Various modifications may be made in our invention Without departing from the spirit or scope thereof and all suchmodiiications coming clearly within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of our invention.

We claim: j

l. In an electric iron, a manually adjustable control for the iron electricheat control switch comprising an upstanding control shaft mounted for axial movement, a rotatablehub` member separate from the shaft, a rotatable finger adjustable member removably secured to said hub member, a further rotatable member removably secured to said hub member and located above said adjustable member, a Vrotatable stop element on said further rotatable member, and a stationary stop element coactive with said rotatable stop element.

2. In an electric iron, a manually adjustable control for thev iron electric heat control switch comprising an upstanding control shaft mounted for rotary and axial movement, a hub member removably splined to the upper end ofsaidl control shaft, a rotatable finger adjustable member removably secured to said hub member and adapted to effect rotary and axial'movement of said control shaft, ay rotatable stop member removably secured to said hub member and located above said adjustable member, and a stationary stop element coactive with said rotatable stop member.

V3.y In an' electric iron, a manually adjustable control for the electric heat control switch comprising, an upstanding c ontrolQshaft mounted for axial movement, a housing above the body of the iron having an elongate cavity containing said control shaft, a rotatable linger adjustable member in an opening in said housing lateral of said elongatel cavity, a hub member removably faslteiiedt`- saidinger adjustable member for rotation therewith and lying at least partly in said elongate cavity for holding said finger adjustable member assembled to said housing, and means effecting axial motion of said control shaft in response to rotation of said nger adjustable member and said hub member.

4. The structure of claim3 wherein there is included a rotatable stop member removably and adjustably secured to said hub member above said linger adjustable member, and a stationary stop element carried by said housing coactive with said stop member for limiting rotation of said linger adjustable member.

5. In an electric iron, a manually adjustable control for the electric heat control switch comprising, an upstanding control shaft threaded for rotation and axial movement in a stationary support carried by the iron, a housing above the body of the iron having an elongate cavity containing at least the upper end of said control shaft, a rotatable finger adjustable member above said shaft in an opening in said housing lateral of said elongate cavity and extending thereinto, a hub member in said elongate cavity removably fastened to said finger adjustable member for rotation therewith and for holding it in place and splined to said shaft for rotating it.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein there is included a rotatable stop member removably and adjustably secured to said hub member above said iinger adjustable member, and a stationary stop element carried by said housing coactive with said stop member for limiting rotation of said 'finger adjustable member.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein there is included a separate indicator member mounted on said stop member.

8. In an electric iron, a manually adjustable control for the iron electric heat control switch comprising an upstanding elongated control member mounted for axial movement, a separate rotatable hub member adapted through rotation to eiect axial movement of said control member, a rotatable finger adjustable member adapted to effect rotation of said hub member, an indicator member removably secured to said hub member and located above said adjustable member, and hollow housing means above the body of the iron enclosing said hub member, said adjustable member and said indicator member, and

from which said indicating member and adjustable member are separately removable.

9. In an electric iron, a manually adjustable control for the iron electric heat control switch comprising an upstanding elongated control member mounted for axial movement, a rotatable inger adjustable member, means responsive to rotation of said adjustable member for effecting axial movement of said control member, an indicating member removably mounted for rotation with said adjustable member and hollow housing means above the body of the iron housing said adjustable member and said indicating member and from which said indicating member and said adjustable member are separately removable.

10. In an electric iron, a manually adjustable control for the iron electric heat control switch comprising an upstanding elongated control member mounted for axial movement, a rotatable finger adjustable member, means responsive to rotation of said adjustable member for effecting axial movement of said control member, a further rotatable member removably mounted for rotation with said adjustable member, and hollow housing means above the body of the iron housing said control member, said adjustable member and said further member and from which housing means said further member is removable separately from said adjustable member and said control member is removable separately from both said further member and said adjustable member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 458,762 Charonnat Sept. 1, 1891 1,461,521 Forney et al July l, 1923 2,184,270 Campbell Dec. 26, 1939 2,203,303 Meinhardt June 4, 1940 2,262,667 Daiorn et al Nov. 1l, 1941 2,311,478 Shaw Feb. 16, 1943 2,339,407 Horton et al. I an. 18, 1944 2,424,150 Clark et al July 15, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 95,609 Austria Jan. 10, 1924 237,417 Great Britain July 30, 1925 

